This study was conducted to investigate anti-inflammatory and wrinkle improvement effects of Sophora flavescens Aiton water extracts (SWE) treated with proteolytic enzyme. The antioxidant activity of proteolyzed Sophora flavescens Aiton water extracts (SWE-E) showed increased total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content, electron-donating ability and ABTS+ free radical scavenging activity compared with SWE. To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects, the inhibition of NO production was assessed in RAW 264.7 cells induced by LPS. The SWE-E showed an increased anti-inflammatory effect compared with SWE at the same concentration. The anti-wrinkle effect was evaluated by the rate of collagenase and elastase inhibitory activity, which was determined by the MMP-1 mRNA measured in human dermal fibroblast (HDF) by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Collagenase and elastase are important enzymes that play roles in wrinkle formation, and SWE-E showed a significantly higher collagenase inhibition rate than non-treated extracts. The MMP-1 mRNA in HDF cells decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, SWE was shown to be a non-irritant in the BCOP assay, which is an alternative method to in vivo eye irritation test. Taken together, these results suggest that proteolytic enzyme could enhance the antioxidant activity, as well as the anti-inflammatory and anti-wrinkle effects of SWE, and that SWE-E could be used as a cosmeceutical ingredient.

Waste activated sludge (WAS) and food waste (FW) are available year round at low cost and have the potential to promote synergism in anaerobic digestion (AD). The goal of this study was to clarify the synergism in co-digestion of WAS and FW. A slight amount of FW at various ratios was added to WAS as an auxiliary substrate, and anaerobic batch tests were performed under mesophilic conditions. By adding FW, total CH₄ produced was increased, where most of them were come from WAS, clearly suggesting synergism. Also, lag period was shortened and CH₄ production rate was increased by FW addition. It was hypothesized that enhanced performance was owing to the facilitated hydrolysis of WAS by FW addition, which was revealed by the increased activities of hydrolytic α-amylase and protease.

Effects of acute anoxia on carbohydrate hydrolytic enzyme activities and free amino acid contents in malt were examined. Malts were prepared with barley grains germinated for 7 days which contained the highest levels of amylolytic and(1-3,1-4)-β -glucanase activities. α -Amylase and β -amylase activities in malts were not significantly affected by anoxia for 5 or 10 h.(1-3,1-4)-β -Glucanase activity, however, decreased about 7 to 10% by anoxia for 5 or 10 h. Alanine and ~gamma -aminobutyric acid content changed drastically. Alanine contents in malts increased by 2.2- and 2-fold, and ~gamma -aminobutyric acid contents by 1.4- and 1.9-fold under anoxia for 5 and 10 h, respectively.

취반용 보리 종실 내 (1-3, 1-4)-β-glucan의 축적기작을 알아보기 위하여 개화 후 일정 간격으로 보리 종실을 채취하여 (1-3, 1-4)-β-glucan 함량, (1-3, 1-4)-β-glucanase 활성 및 전분함량과 α -amylase 활성을 조사하였다. β-glucan 함량은 등숙 초기에 매우 낮았으나 개화 후 15~25일 사이에 급속히 증가하였고 개화 후 30일경에는 종실 건물중의 3.5~4%로 증가하였다. (1-3, 1-4)-β-glucanase 활성은 등숙 초기에 높았으며 등숙이 진전될수록 감소하였다. β-glucan 함량과 (1-3, 1-4)-β-glucanase 활성간에는 고도로 유의한 부의 상관관계가 인정되었으나 등숙 종실 중의(1-3, 1-4)-β-glucanase 활성이 매우 낮은 수준이므로 β-glucan 축적량에 크게 영향을 미치지 않을 것으로 추정되었다. 전분함량은 등숙이 진전됨에 따라 지속적으로 증가하였으며 개화 후 10~20일에 가장 뚜렷하게 증가하였다. 포도당함량은 등숙이 진전됨에 따라 현저히 감소하였으며, 등숙 초기와 중기에 감소 정도가 매우 컸다. α -amylase의 활성도 등숙이 진전됨에 따라 현저히 감소하였으며, 감소 정도는 등숙 초기와 중기에 매우 컸다.